Millions
of Shia pilgrims on Saturday gathered in Karbala to commemorate the Arbaeen,
marking the passage of 40 days following the martyrdom of Imam Hossein and 72
companions in the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE. The Shias lost the battle to the
army of Yazid I, the Caliph of the Umayyad. The worshippers marched for three
days from the Shia holy city of Najaf to reach Karbala and Imam Hossein Shrine on
Arbaeen.
Iraqi
police said a mortar attack killed one person and wounded four others near
Karbala on Friday. There are fortunately no reports of major clashes or
casualties during today’s ceremonies. This year’s Arbaeen commemorations come
as the Islamic State controls large portions of Anbar province, bordering
Karbala. ISIL considers Shias to be heretic and has targeted Shia community in
Iraq.
Photo
credit: Shia faithful pilgrims gather between the holy shrines of Imam Hussein and of Imam Abbas, in the background, during the preparations for the commemoration of Arbaeen in the Shia holy city of Karbala; Friday, 12 December 2014.
(Hadi Mizban/AP)
2 comments:
If the Iraqi figures of record numbers of foreign pilgrims is accurate, particularly for those of Iranian participants, these short term transfers of humanity should be considered in strategic terms.
The Shia appear to be voting with their feet, against the threat posed by ISIL and al-Qaida linked forces.
Well said,
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